July 10th, 2007
Well the showing season is over and the breeding season has begun! At the end of the year, these were the showing highlights
Storybook's Lil Beauty - Now a Grand Champion!
Storybook's Romeo - Multiple BOSB's, Now a Grand Champion!
Storybook's Pixie - Currently holds two legs!
Storybook's Chicklet - Now a Grand Champion!
Storybook's Cleopatra - BIS win! Grand Champion!
Storybook's O'Henry - 3x BOB!
Storybook's Cassie - multiple BJB's and BIB's!
It's been a great showing season for us, and we're planning some winners for the fall! Storybook Cavies has seven litters coming up, with one being due any day now! I am looking to keep several more Coronets from my litters, boars and maybe a sow or two, to show at the Specialty. I have been saving the name Denouement for the next gorgeous Coronet boar to be born here, as he will be my last show pig for quite a while (because of darned college :P ).
Also a note - many of my cavies will probably be offered for sale next spring/summer, as I may not be able to handle my current numbers through college. If you like something let me know, though I will be keeping a handful of my best to keep my line alive. None of them will be 'dropped off' or dumped anywhere, I detest people who do that! More than likely they will go to my 4-H kids.
Also, another note - I will be at the OC Fair this Friday and Saturday all day with a cavy info booth.
Until next time,
Amanda and the pigs
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May 11th, 2007
The state show was a lot of fun! Storybook's Pixie won her first ever leg for 1st place in a class of 6 or 7. Storybook's Cassie won 1st place/BJB.
There was also a show in Pomona in the beginning of April, and Purty Girl won a BOV, and Romeo won a BOV, BOSV, and a BOSB (leg! yay!).
Romeo and Purty girl were each awarded another leg at the Youth Expo show for BOV, BOSV and BOSB.
Romeo really seems to be coming into his prime, watch out :P Because he has more color than white but great patching, the judges either love him or hate him. He generally gets first or last, but it has been commented by every single judge so far that he has excellent type and coat, and good color for a broken.
On a sadder note, Cleopatra had her litter on May 9th. The first baby was born healthy and whole, but the second one was extremely large and got stuck. Once the baby had been removed, it and the one behind it were already dead. And, of course, the dead one was absolutely gorgeous :( Momma pig is doing OK, but not great. She is eating and drinking and has good appetite, but she's not out of the woods yet. Hopefully she will pull through and be able to raise her little baby. Pics to come.
We are planning on going to the Bakersfield show on May 19th. I'll only be showing four, but may have some for sale.
Until next time,
-Amanda and the pigs
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March 19th, 2007
Lil Beauty has 'popped' and I have four little REO/White beauties :) The sows are reserved, and the boars will be available.
We are going to the first day of the CA State show, it will be our first time going! I will be showing the following
Storybook's Romeo
Storybook's Purty Girl
Storybook's Pixie
Storybook's Lil Beauty
Storybook's Chicklet
Storybook's Sow
Storybook Boar
Storybook's Johnny
All are American brokens, I have no showable longhairs at the moment *pout*. It should still be fun, and hopefully next year I will have some Coronets to show.
I was all excited about competing in the Royalty competition, but it's rabbits and cavies combined (argg). I am NOT a rabbit person, so I don't know what I'm going to do. I may compete anyways and flunk the rabbits just so I have some practice for the ACBA Specialty next year. I dunno.
Until later,
-Amanda and the pigs
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February 2nd, 2007
I added a new page I had been wanting to add for a while - piggy videos!
Cleopatra got a haircut this week. It was a hard decision, lol. Her hair was so gorgeous, but I decided to put her into breeding now rather than heighten the risk later on. That means I will have no longhair show pigs for about 3 months, and even then they won't be in show coat for at least a few more months. I'm gonna miss all that gorgeous coat :( And I have resolved to show only boars in long coat now. It's just - easier. No worrying about breeding at a certain age, and not as much fussiness from the pig.
We have some shows coming up, I am hoping to make it to the State Convention. That would be AWESOME.
- Amanda and the pigs
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December 20th, 2006
Well I have not put anything new on here for a while, and I should have - considering my recent wins :)
Results for the Santee show (12/2/06)
Storybook's Lil Beauty - BOV in one show (2nd leg)
Storybook's Cleopatra - BOB in both shows (2nd & 3rd legs :)))
Tigger's Desmond - BOSB in one show, BIV/BIB in the other
Results for Pomona show (12/9/06)
Storybook's Lil Beauty - BOV in one show (3rd leg! :)
Tigger's Desmond - BOSB in both shows
Storybook's Cleopatra - BOB in both shows, and BIS in Tim Patty's show! (another leg)
I was very excited to have gotten a Best In Show with my little Cleo! I was not expecting it at all, and it was my first BIS at a real show with a home-bred animal :) I did get one other BIS with an American before, but it was out of a total of 20 or so animals at a youth show, so it wasn't a very big win.
Well, Beauty is in Breeding to Romeo, Miss Muffet is in breeding to Desmond, and Pixie is due anytime :)
I will write more later,
-Amanda and the pigs
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November 6th, 2006
We had a nice day at the show and did quite well. Here's the rundown
Storybook's Cleopatra - BSV, BOV, BOB (a leg!!)
Storybook Sow - BIV, BOV, BIB
Storybook's Lil Beauty - 2nd place
Storybook's Chatelaine - 1st place
I didn't do so great with my Americans this time, but there were six Coronets entered, which was a nice surprise (after I won BOB, lol). Cleopatra decided to be wiggly and wouldn't sit still, so we will be working even more on that...
I also came back with a new addition, a GA/White Jr Coronet boar from Tigger's Teddies. He is very cute and has a great pinpoint coronet, I will breed him to Cleopatra and Miss Muffet when he is old enough.
-Amanda and the pigs
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November 3rd, 2006
We have our first show of the season tomorrow! Getting the before-show jitters :)
I am only showing 4 pigs this time - Cleopatra, an unnamed Coronet sow, Lil Beauty, and Chatti.
My Americans have interesting coats at the moment, since the weather is changing so much, but the Coronets look great :) This particular judge gave my Lil Beauty BOV and a leg last time, so we're hoping for something like that again (who doesn't?). Also, Cleopatra is looking quite gorgeous, and can't wait to see how the judge likes her...
Will report back after tomorrow! Should have some pics up as well.
-Amanda and the pigs
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September 19th, 2006
Well, 4-H started up again last night. It looks like the cavy project will have a good turnout this year!
As far as website updates go... I have been working on a set of educational videos on cavies that will be up in the near future. They will be on noises, body language, etc. etc. I am very excited to get these up, and I'll also be using some of them during my cavy meetings.
til next time,
-Amanda and the pigs
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September 8, 2006
It's been a while since I last posted! I've been busy with school and stuff (a necessary evil I suppose).
Well, I found out I won State with my cavy record book! Woot! And there was even good competition! Heh heh, I foresee some caviary renovations in the near future...
We are also getting ready to start up the 4-H year again. If you have kids (or are a kid) ages 5-18 I would strongly recommend you join 4-H. It's a great program for kids, and builds leadership, animal, and communication/speech skills. Here the OC website
Well, until next time!
-Amanda and the pigs
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July 19th, 2006
Well my website was down for about a week due to some.. err.. technical difficulties. Now it's back up and updates are comin! We have a few planned litters but no one's in breeding yet. Storybook's Purty Girl is now a Grand Champion, and Storybook's Cleopatra won two BOB's at the June 10th show (over one other - hey, at least there was any competition!).
This year I entered a Senior Record book (for 4-H) on cavies. I won at county level and now it goes on to sectional (and hopefully state after that!). State winners receive $500... so there is definitely a motivator ;)
-Amanda and the pigs
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May 22nd, 2006
This last weekend was Regional/Sectional Demo day, where all 4-Hers who passed County Demo day go to present their demos. I gave an Illustrated Speech (around 10 minutes in length) called 'Longhair Cavy Care', on choosing, grooming, making a showboard for, and showing a longhaired cavy. I got a gold (highest award) and am going to State Demo day this weekend! My sister, Joanna, is as well, with her demo 'Bamie's Beauty Salon' on grooming a Teddy for show.
We are hoping to attend the June 10th show in Pomona, I have my new Coronet to show.
-Amanda and the pigs
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April 17th, 2006
Youth Expo went well - crazy day, but everything went ok. The pig I gave my sister won BIS, and mine got some 1st places, etc. I think everyone who entered had a good time, I know it was fun for me!
There is a show this Saturday at 'The Park', a single open show judged by two judges. The park is about five minutes from my house, so I guess I lucked out on location this time! I will be entering six pigs.
We also had our litters of longhaired and shorthaired babies. Miss Muffet had four sows, three Coronets and a Silkie. I am considering coating out two of the Coronets. Lil Beauty had her first litter successfully, four REO/White Americans, two sows/two boars. One of the boars is very nice, and all have blunt noses and dumbo ears!
-Amanda and the pigs
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April 6, 2006
Well, this Saturday's the Youth Expo cavy show, and I'm trying to get everything ready. Sharon Baker is the judge, we have a whopping total of 24 cavies in the show (lol). We will also be having a showmanship competition, cavy knowledge test, and breed/variety judging.
Youth Expo is open (and free) to the public and goes from Friday to Sunday. It's mostly 4-H, FFA and Girl Scout based, it's like a mini-fair. There are crafts, art, and things like that as well as animal shows/showmanship. There is a dog show Saturday morning, and the cavy show starts at 2 in the afternoon.
-Amanda and the pigs
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March 27, 2006
Well, here's how we did at the double show
Storybook's Pixie - 2nd place ~ 3rd place
Storybook's Romeo - 1st place in both shows
Tartan's Lil Charmr - 2nd place ~ 1st place, BSV and BOSV
Storybook's Pig Penny (now sold) - BOV ~ BOV, BOB (leg)
Storybook's Chicklet - 1st place, BIV, and BOV in both shows (2 legs!!!)
We had a fun time and did quite well. Chicklet's very first show, and already she has two legs! :)
-Amanda and the pigs
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March 17, 2006
Happy St Patrick's day!
I will be attending the show in Fullerton on March 25, where Storybook's Romeo, Pixie and Chicklet will be shown for their first times. I am very excited to see how they do!
Currently Miss Muffet and Lil Beauty seem to be about a month pregnant, so we should be having two litters around April 17-24. I am very excited as this will be my first ever longhair litter!
Some cavy related things I have done recently:
- I am planning the cavy show for Youth Expo, April 8, at the OC Fairgrounds.
- I gave a 4-H demo (7-12 minute speech/presentation) on 'Longhair Cavy Care', and got gold at the County level, so I'm going on to Sectional/Regional level. It would be awesome to go to State again!!!
- I have entered the ACBA Youth Achievement and Management contests (you fill out about 5 pages of answers to management/achievement questions). Last year I was too busy to enter, but the year before I did get 1st for my age group and district.
Well, hope all your piggies are doin well!
-Amanda and the pigs
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February 9, 2006
The orphaned babies are doing well and ready for their new homes. Unfortunately, though, Storybook's Chubby Lil Chiquita passed away today.
I am working on a new cage that will be so awesome when it's done, it will be 30 square feet! I'll post pics when its finished!
-Amanda and the pigs
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January 12, 2006
Well, after a long struggle trying to save Chubbs, she died last week on Thursday night. She had developed Ketosis after littering four days earlier. I am glad to say, however, that her babies have pulled through and I now have four healthy 10-day-old babies. I hope that they continue to do well.
- Amanda and the pigs
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December 3rd, 2005
Well, back from a long day at the show, and we did quite well. Below are listed the pigs I showed and their winnings. The show was a double open show. All the pigs below are American brokens except for Pig Penny who is a broken American Satin.
Storybook's Lil Beauty - BIV, BOV, BIB (a leg) in show B, BIV in show A
Storybook's Sow (no name) - 2nd place out of two in both shows
Storybook's Pig Penny - 2nd out of two in show A, BJV and BOSV in show B (possibly a leg)
Tartan's Lil Charmr - 3rd out of 4 in show A, got DQ'd in show B because I entered his ear tag number wrong :S Judge really liked him, too.
I sold two of my sows to one of the judges, and sold two boars to a family as well. I also brought back a TSW Coronet sow who I will breed to my black/white Silkie. So now Storybook Caviary 'does' Americans, American Satins, Silkies, and Coronets!
-Amanda and the pigs
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December 2nd, 2005
Well tomorrow we have a piggy show in Pomona. I'm going to show two new babies as well as Storybook's Lil Beauty and Storybook's Lil Charmr. I hope to come back with a Silkie sow as well, the needed addition to start my Silkie breeding program. I will post any winnings and pics after the show.
-Amanda and the pigs
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November 26th, 2005
Hi! I'm starting this news section so I can list the goings-on of Storybook Caviary. There is a show I will be attending December 3rd in Pomona. I will be showing some of my American brokens, as well as looking for a broken Silkie sow for my Prince Charmont.
Well, that's about all that's going on right now, hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!!!
-Amanda and the pigs
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